099

DANIKA

I'm seated on the couch, clutching Kaziel's phone on my lap with Kira and Isaiah making calls. It’s been hours since my mate went missing. I feel helpless. Tears well up in my eyes, and I sniffle, trying to be strong. I’m painfully aware that Kaziel had been lying to me when we'd spoken earlier. Scratch that, I feel it in my bones.

I know my father has him. He's the only enemy left. He must've taken him for the ritual, and that means he's probably at the cult house. Eve might know where it is. Since she was close to her sister.

I watch Isaiah clench his jaw, his brow deeply furrowed, while Kira heaves a sigh.

They still believe this is a search.

It isn't.

It's a countdown.

I lower my eyes to Kaziel's phone, my thumb brushing over the cracked edge of the screen. If I tell them what I know, they'll stop me. They'll insist on plans and backup and waiting.

Kaziel doesn't have time for waiting. So the question isn't if I'm leaving. It's how.

How do I walk out of this room w